Internal-combustion engine.



L W. EISENHUTH. INTERNAL comusloN ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l0, 1912. v

Patented July 17, 1917.-

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE l0, 1912- A Patented July 17, 1917'.

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INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I0, I9I2.

Patented July 17, 1917.

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INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION HLEo1uNE1o,191;.

Patented July 17, l1917'.

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INTERNAL CoMBUsUoN ENGINE.

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J. W. EISENHUTH. INTERNAL coNBusTxoN ENGINE. APLICATION FILED JUNE I0, 1912.

Patented July 17, 1917.

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AHV1/Elvira@ w's Arfarney j a citizen of the United States, residing at i compound l..." r l l i if i" .i im... .Ali i. i

JOHN W. EISENHUT'H, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

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Application led une 10, 1912. Serial No. 702,783.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN W. EISENHUTH,

Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing; v

This invention relates to internal comb11stion engines and has special reference to a internal combustion engine wherein after the explosion in one cylinder, the same being the high pressure cylinder, the gases will be conducted to a low pressure cylinder.

Une object of the invention is to improve and simplify the' general construction of devices of this character.

A second object of the invention'is to provide an improved as engine whereiri'a plurality of four-cycle high pressure engines 4 will operate to exhaust alternately into .a

'two-cycle low pressure engine. y

.A third object of the inventionis to pro videan improved form of valve especially Vadapted for use in connection with such engines. v

A fourth object of the invention is to pro vide an improved means for' scavenging a high pressure engine after the explosion of the gases has taken place.

A iifthobject of the inventionis to lprovide an improved'form of valve arrangement for multrcyllnder internal combustion engines.

A sixth object of the invention is to provide an improved low pressure cylinder arrangement wherein the lower end of the low pressure cylinder will act as a four-cycle single acting internal combustion engine.

A seventh` object of theinvention is to yprovide an improved method for operating multi-stage internal combustion engines.

'W ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists 'in general in certain novel cylinder, valve and other arrangements of parts and combinations of details hereinafter fully described, illu'stratedw'in the accompanying drawings, and-specififlly claimed.

l ln the accompanying drawings like char- 'acters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure l is a side elevation of the engine taken from the cylinder side.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the engine taken from the valve side. M

Fig. 3 is aplan view of the engine partly in section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, certain of the pistons being omitted more clearly to show the passages.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 isa vertical median section takenV pressure pistons showing the skirt hereinafter referred to.

vThis enginey is provided with the usual' base 2O whereon is mounted the vframe 21. Suitably arranged within the casing formed by the base and frame are certain bearings 22 whereinis journaled a shaft 23 provided with a plurality of cranks 24.

In the present embodiment sixV cylinders are employed which are arranged in two groups of three-each, there being a low pressure cylinder located between a pair of high pressure cylinders in each group, the center lines of thecylinders all lying in the samel'plane. The center crank of each group is arranged at an angle'of 18()o to the remaining cranks and the cranks of one group are quarteredwith respect to the cranks of ably cast integral with the frame, all ports the other group. A These cylinders are preferand like parts, together with the water jacketing being cored in one casting so as to produce -a unit structure. e I Y y In carrying out the above arran ement the low pressure cylinder is indicate at Vand this cylinder has a reduced extension 26 running below the lower end' of the cylinder and projecting slightly up therein as indicated at 27. At each side of this low pressure cylinder there is provided a high pressure cylinder 28 of the ordinary form. Each of lthe low pressure cylinders has a piston 29 which has a reduced extension 30 fitted closely in the extension 26 of the low pressure cylinder,land suitable packing, not deemed necessary here to, be shown4 as the saine` is of the ordinary type, is used to insure a gas-proof joint between the eXtensions. The piston itself is also provided with the usual rings orother like means of rendering the joint gas tight.

In each of the high pressure cylinders there is provided a piston 31. These various pistons are connected to the cranks 24 by piston rods 32 of any preferred type.

By reason of the reduced extension 30 on the low pressure piston an annular passage or chamber 33 is formed around this'extension and it will be plain that if a charge of gas be exploded compressed in this annular passage the reduced effective area of the piston will constitute a third high pressure piston in each group.

Arranged along the side of the engine and cast integral therewith is a series of waterjacketed valve chests 34, there being four chests arranged side by side and two in vertical alinement below the center chests of the four as can readily be seen by reference to Fig. 2. Connecting the two upper chests of each set is a passage 35 which opens by means of intake ports'36 into the respective chests. At the end of the passage 35 adjacent the center of the engine there is provided a passage 37 which runs down to the lower chest 34' of the resperctive set and opens into `said chest through a port 38. Centrally disposed of each of the passages 35 is a flange 39,whereto may be connected the intake manifold pipe leading from the earbureter or such other source of carburized air as may be employed.

These ports 36 and 38- are preferably in the upper part of the respective chests and extend longitudinally thereof. Spaced around the respective chests from these ports are other ports 40 which communicate with passages 4l leading to the respective inlet ports 42- of the low pressure cylinder, these being located adjacent the top of that cylin- From the lower` end of each. valve chest a passage 43 extends t0 each high pressure cylinder, the passage opening into the re spectivehigh pressure cylinder and valve chest by means of similar ports.

Within each of the valve chests is a rotary valve and this valve consists of a pair of cylindrical cup-shaped members. there being a major member 44 located in the up-l ,per end of the valve chest and a minor member 45 located in the lower end thereof. These cup-shaped structures face each other and are connected by any suitable means, as by the bar 46 which holds them' with their edges in spaced relation. One of these mem: bers terminates above the passage 43 of the respective'chest while the other has its upper edge lying below so that the passage 43 of these stems there is provided a beveled gear 49 which meshes with a beveled gear 50 carried on a shaft 5l which isaetuated by suitable gearing, as indicated in general at 52, from the main shaft It is to be observed that as the shafts are symmetrically arranged with respect to their port openings in each group the valves of each group will revolve in opposite directions. All of these gears are preferably ineased in as indicated at 53 to prevent injury from dust and dirt. l

At the lower end Vof each of the low pressure cylinders there is provided a port 54 and the passage 43 leading from each of the lower casings 42 communicates with 'this port, thus opening beneath the piston 29. On each of the pistons 29 there is a downwardly projecting skirt 55, shown in Fig. 14, which, when the piston is in its lowermost position, will close the respective port 54 irrespective of the position or movement of any valve, the skirt being received in the annular passage 33 between the inward extension 27 and the outer wall of the low pressure cylinder. y

Secured to one side of the frame 2l is a vacuum chamber 56 which communicates :with ports 57 located intermediate the ends of the respective low pressure cylinders, the ports being uncovered when the low pres sure piston is at its lowermost point- Lead mesme from one port to another.

` By this means there 1s provided ay novel method of scavenging the engine for when these ports are thus momentarily opened to each other the powerful vacuum maintained will instantly draw a charge of fresh carbureted air through the valve and thus clear the valve of any burnt gases that may remain therein the same having not been forced out by the upward stroke of the high pressure piston.

All of the parts of this engine with the exception of the vacuum 'chamber are pro-- vided with the usual water jacket 63.

1,n the operation of the engine let it be supposed that the parts are in thev position shown in Fig. 6 and that the left hand piston is the next to be fired, the other cylinders being free from gas. Now, upon the l cranking of the engine the charge of carbureted air will be drawn intothe left hand high pressure cylinder.A Upon the completion of one revolution this charge will then compress. Thereupon the charge is ignited in any preferred manner and the piston driven downward. lAs this piston passes downward the valve of the right-hand cylinder of that group will then open to the carbureter so that its piston will also, draw in a charge of 'carbureted air when coming down. At this time the valve of the left hand cylinder has turned to such aposition as to place the valve in communication with the upper part of the low pressure cylinder whose piston at the moment will be at the upper end of the stroke. rlhereupon the charge from the left hand cylinder expanding will force the low pressure piston downward until the V ports 57 are uncovered. When this takes place the burnt gases rush violently into the vacuum chamber, the vacuum being constantly maintained by running the'pump 58.

Now the explosion takes place in the right hand cylinder of that group. The low pressure piston ascends and the two high pres- 'sure pistons descend, the left hand one drawing in a fresh charge. When the right hand high pressure piston reaches the bottom of the stroke its valve again places the lowpressure cylinder in communication 'with the right hand valve chest whereupon the gases from the right'handcylinder force gases are exploded on every complete revoi lution in one of the two high pressure cylinders so that the low pressure piston receives an impulse from the exploded gases on every revolution, thereby causing the low pressure engine to act as a two-cycle engine while the high pressure engines are eachfour-cycle engines. 4

The operation just referred to takes place at one end of the engine while a similar operation is taking place at the opposite end of the engine with the exception that the yoperation there vis advanced one-half stroke in each cylinder over that in the similar cylinder in the first mentioned end.

By this -means a single two-cycle engine is operated in combination with a pluralityV one, preferably the one toward the center of the high pressure engines. Under normal conditions this lower end is opened to the atmosphere by means of a suitable valve, but in hill climbing and the like where it is desired to have the fullest possible power the three high pressure enginesin each group are used by closing the valve whereupon the low pressure cylinder receives alternate impulses from one of the high pressure ex- .plosions and from two high pressure explosions simultaneously.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A compound internal combustion unit comprising a set of high pressure cylinders and an intermediate low pressure cylinder, pistons for each cylinder, divergent radial ports at one side of the low pressure cylinder, and valve'chambers therefor disposed between the low pressure andthe high pressure cylinders, lports connecting the said chambers to respective high pressure cylinders, a pair of relatively symmetrically arranged Vvalves disposed in said chambers and operative to alternately connect the high pressure cylinders to the lower through said ports, and a lateral intake chamber for fuel having symmetrical openings to said valve chambers, and formed integrally therewith.

2. A compound internal combustion unit comprising a vset 'of high pressure cylinders and an intermediate low pressure cylinder, pistons for each cylinder, divergent radial ports at one side of the low pressure cylinder, and valve chambers therefor disposed between the low pressure and the high pressure cylinders,v ports connecting the said chambers to respective high pressure cylinders, a pair of relatively symmetrically arranged valves disposed in said chambers and operative to alternately connect the high pressure cylinders to the lower through said ports, a lateral intake chamber for fuel having symmetrical openings to said valve chambers, and an exhaust and vacuum chamber communicating `with said low pressure chamber, and momentarily through an open Valve to the intake chamber whereby the respective connected passages are scavenged.

3. A compound, internal combustion engine comprising a shaft, a casing having two sets 'of interacting high and low pressure. cylinders all arranged in a plane of said shaft, pistons therein connected to the shaft, the low pressure cylinders of each set being disposed between its respective high pressure cylinders, a set of valves for the l high pressure cylinders arranged in pairs low pressure cylinder, a valve chamber having a port at one end leading to the high pressure cylinder and a pair of ports at its opposite end, one leading to' an intake chamber and one to the low pressure cylinder,

,and a valve controlling flow from the intake to the high pressure cylinder and also from the latter to the low pressure cylinder.

A compound, internal combustion-engine having a high pressure cylinder and a low pressure cylinder, a valve chamber having a port at one end leading to .the high pressure cylinder and a air of ports at its opposite end, one leading to an i1 alie chamber and one to the low pressure c linder, and a valve controlling ioW from the intake to the high pressure cylinder and also from the latter to the low pressure cylinder, a piston in the low pressure cylinder having a dili'erential diameter and fitting at its smaller end a reduced portion of said low pressure cylinder'to form a high pressure piston on one side, a second valve chamber alinincr with the first and having ports in its wal, and a second valve axially alining with the first, and controlling flow through the second chamber. I.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. EISENHUTH.

Witnesses:

ROBERT M. SUTPHEN, L. N. GILLIS. 

